ANANOVA (London, UK) 04 November 06 Ringmaster carries on - despite croc attack
A circus ringmaster carried on with a performance - despite having his thumb bitten off by a crocodile.
German Daniel Renz, 39, was on tour with his Renz Universal Circus in Le Mans, France, when the accident happened.
The 4,000-strong audience clapped and cheered - believing it was part of the act.
Renz had been trying to demonstrate to the audience "that crocodiles are not man-eaters" by stroking King, a 5ft 9ins crocodile - when it suddenly snapped its jaws.
Renz said: "I saw him chomp down on my left thumb, bite into it, and twist his head to rip it off, before dropping it onto the floor of the cage.
"The stump started spurting blood but I couldn't just run off. There were five crocodiles out of their cages so I had to go on with the show until we could get them all back in."
At the end Renz held up his thumbless hand to rapturous applause: "The audience thought it was just part of the show," he added.
Ringmaster carries on - despite croc attack